Derek Carr of the Oakland Raiders looks to pass in the 2nd quarter of the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on November 8, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Derek Carr of the Oakland Raiders looks to pass in the 2nd quarter of the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on November 8, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Photo: Jared Wickerham, Getty Images

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DeAngelo Williams #34 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs the ball past Charles Woodson #24 of the Oakland Raiders during the 2nd half of the game at Heinz Field on November 8, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

DeAngelo Williams #34 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs the ball past Charles Woodson #24 of the Oakland Raiders during the 2nd half of the game at Heinz Field on November 8, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Photo: Jared Wickerham, Getty Images

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Roosevelt Nix #45 of the Pittsburgh Steelers forces a fumble on Taiwan Jones #22 of the Oakland Raiders during the game at Heinz Field on November 8, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Roosevelt Nix #45 of the Pittsburgh Steelers forces a fumble on Taiwan Jones #22 of the Oakland Raiders during the game at Heinz Field on November 8, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Photo: Jared Wickerham, Getty Images

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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) runs past Oakland Raiders free safety Charles Woodson (24) after making a catch to help set up the Steelers game-winning field goal in the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015, in Pittsburgh. less

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) runs past Oakland Raiders free safety Charles Woodson (24) after making a catch to help set up the Steelers game-winning field goal in the second half of an ... more

Photo: Don Wright, Associated Press

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Michael Crabtree #15 of the Oakland Raiders catches a game tying touchdown pass in front of Lawrence Timmons #94 of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 4th quarter of the game at Heinz Field on November 8, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. less

Michael Crabtree #15 of the Oakland Raiders catches a game tying touchdown pass in front of Lawrence Timmons #94 of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 4th quarter of the game at Heinz Field on November 8, 2015 in ... more

PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 08: Latavius Murray #28 of the Oakland Raiders lies on the ground injured on the field in the 3rd quarter of the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on November 8, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. less

PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 08: Latavius Murray #28 of the Oakland Raiders lies on the ground injured on the field in the 3rd quarter of the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on November 8, ... more

Photo: Jared Wickerham, Getty Images

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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) makes a catch past Oakland Raiders cornerback David Amerson (29) in the second quarter of an NFL football game , Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015, in Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) makes a catch past Oakland Raiders cornerback David Amerson (29) in the second quarter of an NFL football game , Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015, in Pittsburgh.

Photo: Gene J. Puskar, Associated Press

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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) makes a catch past Oakland Raiders cornerback David Amerson (29) in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015, in Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) makes a catch past Oakland Raiders cornerback David Amerson (29) in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015, in Pittsburgh.

Photo: Gene J. Puskar, Associated Press

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Derek Carr #4 of the Oakland Raiders celebrates a first quarter touchdown in the first quarter of the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on November 8, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Derek Carr #4 of the Oakland Raiders celebrates a first quarter touchdown in the first quarter of the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on November 8, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Photo: Jared Wickerham, Getty Images

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Antonio Brown #84 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs the ball in the 4th quarter of the game against the Oakland Raiders at Heinz Field on November 8, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Antonio Brown #84 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs the ball in the 4th quarter of the game against the Oakland Raiders at Heinz Field on November 8, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Photo: Justin K. Aller, Getty Images

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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) makes a catch past Oakland Raiders cornerback David Amerson (29) in the second quarter of an NFL football game , Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015, in Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) makes a catch past Oakland Raiders cornerback David Amerson (29) in the second quarter of an NFL football game , Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015, in Pittsburgh.

Photo: Gene J. Puskar, Associated Press

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PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 08: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers is injured after being sacked by Aldon Smith #99 of the Oakland Raiders in the 4th quarter of the game at Heinz Field on November 8, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. less

PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 08: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers is injured after being sacked by Aldon Smith #99 of the Oakland Raiders in the 4th quarter of the game at Heinz Field on November ... more

Photo: Justin K. Aller, Getty Images

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Raiders’ offense could be slowed if Latavius Murray is sidelined

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PITTSBURGH — The Raiders’ running game has been churning recently, but that task might be a lot harder Sunday if Latavius Murrayisn’t ready to go against Minnesota.

Murray took a helmet-to-helmet hit from former Raiders safety Mike Mitchell in the third quarter and was knocked out of the game.

There was no penalty on the play because the ball carrier wasn’t defenseless. But he was still caught square, and he was on the ground for a while before walking off the field gingerly. Head coach Jack Del Riosaid the running back is undergoing the league’s concussion protocol.

“We’ll just pray that he is going to be OK,” quarterback Derek Carr said. “When you lose someone who is that type of football player, it’s going to hurt.”

Besides two fumbles Sunday, Murray ran well and had 96 yards on 17 carries.

Backup Taiwan Jones also had two fumbles. He had two carries for zero yards. Fullback Jamize Olawale had a 19-yard touchdown run and fullback Marcel Reece added three runs for 21 yards.

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Big hit: Aldon Smithis having a fairly quiet season, but he just might have made a big impact on the AFC playoff race.

In the fourth quarter, Smith sacked Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger, rolling over his left foot in the process. Roethlisberger was carted into the locker room, replaced by Landry Jones.

According to reports Sunday night, Roethlisberger has a sprained foot and will miss the Steelers’ game against Cleveland next Sunday. The following week, Pittsburgh has a bye. If Roethlisberger misses more time, it could affect the team's playoff chances.

Amerson tested: Cornerback David Amerson stepped in front of a Roethlisberger pass intended for Antonio Brown and made an interception. Amerson had pretty good coverage on most of the 23 passes thrown his way.

“I am not going to say (Brown) is Superman or anything like that,” Amerson said. “He’s a great receiver, but we could have done a better job of containing him. …

“We have to go back to the board and we have to practice to get better.”

The Raiders do have an interception in seven straight games, the team’s longest streak since 2000-01.

Briefly: The Raiders scored at least 33 points for the fourth time this season, the team’s most through eight games since 1970. … The 10 sacks that the offensive line has allowed this season are also the fewest through eight games since the AFL-NFL merger. … Carr’s 19 touchdown passes are the team’s most through eight since the merger. … Before he was injured, Roethlisberger completed 24 of 44 passes for 334 yards. He passed both Johnny Unitasand Joe Montanaon the list for most passing yards in NFL history, moving into 14th place with 40,565 yards.

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